Corned Beef and Cabbage

INGREDIENTS
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 pound baby carrots
3 cups water
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 (3 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet, cut in half
1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges

DIRECTIONS
Place the onion, potatoes and carrots in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Combine water, garlic, bay leaf, sugar, vinegar, pepper and contents of spice packet; pour over vegetables. Top with brisket and cabbage. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Millionaire Shortbread

Lori brought these for Christmas—they were delicious!
(Southern Living, April 2005)

1 ½ cups butter, softened and divided
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cups white rice flour*
½ cup sugar
Cooking spray for baking
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
¼ cup light corn syrup
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate morsels (I accidentally used milk chocolate)

• ¾ cups all-purpose flour may be substituted (I did)

Pulse 1 cup butter, flours, and white sugar in a food processor 10-15 times or until crumbly. (I cut the butter into the flour with that cutting tool-thingy…know what I mean?)
Press mixture evenly into a 15 X 10 inch jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until light golden brown.

Stir together remaining ½ cup butter, condensed milk, and corn syrup in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over low heat for 4 minutes or until butter is melted and mixture is blended. Add brown sugar, and cook, stirring constantly, 25-30 minutes or until caramel colored and thickened. Pour evenly over baked cookie in the pan, and spread into an even layer. Chill 30 minutes or until caramel is set.

Microwave morsels in a small glass bowl at HIGH 1 minute or until almost melted. Stir until smooth. Spread over caramel layer in pan. (The chocolate layer will be thin). Chill 15 minutes or until chocolate is firm. Cut into 2-inch squares; if desired, cut each square into two triangles.

Campari Tomatoes

Winters are rough in the Midwest—especially when the tomatoes they sell taste like cardboard. Then last winter I splurged on some Campari tomatoes at Costco and couldn't believe that they tasted almost field grown. I thought maybe I was just lucky, but I just got another box and had four with my lunch. (Trying to get those vegetable --or are they fruits??--servings in.)
Well, they are terrific. You've probably all found them by now but, if not, give them a try. This tomato farmer's daughter rates them an 8 or 9 on a 10 point scale.